Issue No. 62
A.- SUN ANNOUNCES 400Mhz and 450Mhz UltraSPARC-II(TM) MICROPROCESSORS
B.- RED HAT RELEASES LINUX 5.2
D.- INSIGNIA SOLUTIONS TEAMS WITH VIOSOFT TO INTEGRATE JAVA TECHNOLOGIES FOR EMBEDDED DEVELOPERS
E.- METROWERKS’ CODEWARRIOR TO SUPPORT INSIGNIA SOLUTIONS’ EMBEDDED VIRTUAL MACHINE(TM)
F.- HAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC. INTRODUCES FUJITSU SPARC(TM) SMP SERVERS
II. TESTING ADDITIONS, DELETIONS AND PRODUCTS IN PROCESS
I. A. – SUN ANNOUNCES 400Mhz and 450Mhz UltraSPARC-II(TM) MICROPROCESSORS
San Jose, CA–Nov. 2, 1998–Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced the availability of samples of the 400 MHz version of the UltraSPARC(TM)-II microprocessor and the plans for the 450 MHz version to be available in the Spring of 1999. The new processors are proof of Sun’s commitment to its recently announced microprocessor roadmap – a roadmap taking the UltraSPARC microprocessor architecture into the next century.
Sun’s ability to continually deliver higher performance processors with industry-leading bandwidth that enables higher system throughput while maintaining binary compatibility has made the UltraSPARC(TM) architecture the leading choice for the server and workstation markets. This is demonstrated in recent reports from independent market research which indicate that Sun leads the market in workstation and servers shipments.
The performance boost to the 450 MHz and 400 MHz UltraSPARC-II chips is achieved by moving the design into Texas Instruments’ 0.25 micron process technology. The UltraSPARC-II microprocessor family now spans from 250MHz to 450 MHz. An UltraSPARC-II microprocessor, running at 450 MHz with 4 Mbytes of Level 2 cache is estimated to deliver a SPECint95 rating of 19.6 and a SPECfp95 rating of 27.1. UltraSPARC processors are the first line of chips to support the recently announced fully 64-bit Solaris(TM) 7 operating environment. As a result, users don’t have to wait to take full advantage of the performance, reliability and scalability delivered via the combination of a 64-bit operating system matched with a 64-bit processor.
Samples of the 400 MHz version of the UltraSPARC-II microprocessor are available today in a 4 Mbyte Level 2 cache configuration. When available in volume, the UltraSPARC-II processor at 400 MHz is expected to sell for $4,249 in 1,000 unit quantities. Pricing for the 450 MHz version will be announced when it is available in the Spring of 1999.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, “The Network Is The Computer(TM),” has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc., to its position as a leading provider of high quality hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $10 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at www.sun.com.
I. B. – Red Hat Releases Linux 5.2
Research Triangle Park, NC–November 2, 1998–Simplified installation, Native Software RAID support, Apache 1.3 , GIMP 1.0, and the Application CD are among the features that mark Red Hat Software’s November 9 release of Red Hat Linux 5.2, a rock-solid update of Red Hat Software’s award-winning Red Hat Linux Operating System.
The release of Red Hat Linux 5.2 builds on the momentum generated by the support of key industry players. Technology leaders like Oracle, Sybase, Informix, Computer Associates and Corel Computer Corporation lend instant credibility to the Red Hat Linux Operating System.
Said Bob Young, President and CEO, Red Hat Software, Inc.,”The ease-of-use features of Red Hat Linux 5.2 coincide with the incredible support by industry leaders of the Linux development model. Right now, our momentum is absolutely contingent on our ability to best advance the technology according to the demands of the industry. With Red Hat Linux 5.2, we are bringing to market an installation class that is the answer to enterprise-level demands.”
For more information about Red Hat Software and Red Hat products and technologies, please call +-919-547-0012 or visit our web site at www.redhat.com.
I. C. FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS SETS JAVA-SPARCLITE(TM) COMBINATION FOR OEMS DEVELOPING INTERNET APPLIANCES
San Jose, CA–Nov. 3, 1998–Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc. (FMI) will demonstrate the industry’s first business Java(TM) port to an embedded application at this year’s Embedded Systems Conference at the San Jose Convention Center.
FMI has ported business Java to a new board built around Fujitsu’s MB86832 SPARClite(TM) processor and bundled into its new J-StarterKit, designed for customers using SPARC in Internet appliances to get Java up and running and quickly as possible. The J-StarterKit demonstration will be at FMI?s booth (1416) at the conference.
“This new port and board enable dramatic reductions in the time required to build a Java-based appliance,” said Basheer Ahmed, director of marketing for the Embedded Processor Products at FMI. “The J-StarterKit, which is the feature of our technology demonstration, allows OEMs to use SPARClite and Java to build the new generations of appliances that are connected to the Internet. These appliances include printers, fax machines and communication devices that represent the future of Internet functionality.” Peripherals include video, graphic, keyboards, mice and other basic computer functions. As drivers become available for Java, other functions will be added.
The demo will use web pages and will execute Java applets. The J-StarterKit will provide what Ahmed defined as a “jump start” for development programs. Ahmed added that the Business Java port is the first in a complete program at Fujitsu to make all forms of Java available on SPARClite processors, including embedded and personal Javas for embedded and hand-held applications.
Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc. (FMI) designs, manufactures and markets a comprehensive portfolio of advanced semiconductors and electronic devices. For product information, please call 1-800-866-8608 or visit the company web site at www.fujitsumicro.com.
I. D. – INSIGNIA SOLUTIONS TEAMS WITH VIOSOFT TO INTEGRATE JAVA TECHNOLOGIES FOR EMBEDDED DEVELOPERS
San Jose, CA–November 3, 1998–Insignia Solutions(R), a leading provider of virtual machine technology, today announced a third party relationship with VioSoft, a provider of software tools designed to meet the specific needs of developers of embedded systems. As part of the relationship, selected VioSoft developer tools will be integrated with JENE(TM), Insignia’s implementation of Java for embedded systems, unveiled today at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, California.
JENE, a Java environment for embedded systems, is comprised of JENE(TM)Runtime and JENe(TM)Suite. JENERuntime consists of the highly configurable Embedded Virtual Machine(TM) (EVM(TM)) and JENE(TM)Class, embedded class libraries. JENESuite consists of JENE(TM)Build, build-time tools for editing, compiling and browsing Java applications, and JENE(TM)Debug, runtime debug utilities, including an event monitor, memory use analyzer, code coverage analyzer and performance profiler.
“Java is clearly the most desirable language for developing embedded systems, but a complete Java environment has not yet been available for resource constrained embedded designs,” said Ronald C. Workman, Insignia’s senior vice president of marketing. “VioSoft has done a great job of creating tools specifically for the needs of embedded developers that interface smoothly with Insignia’s Embedded Virtual Machine using standard Java debug interfaces.
Insignia Solutions Insignia Solutions is a leading provider of virtual machine technology that dynamically optimizes the use of available system resources. JENE, Insignia’s implementation of Java specifically designed for embedded systems, allows developers to create reliable, efficient and predictable embedded devices that are enabled by the Company’s Embedded Virtual Machine. The Company’s PC virtual machines, SoftWindows and RealPC(TM), enable Windows(R) and DOS applications to run on Macintosh and UNIX(R) desktops. The publicly held Company’s US headquarters are in Fremont, California, and its main R&D facilities are in High Wycombe, England.
I. E. – METROWERKS’ CODEWARRIOR TO SUPPORT INSIGNIA SOLUTIONS’ EMBEDDED VIRTUAL MACHINE™
San Jose, CA–November 3, 1998–Metrowerks, Inc., (today announced its CodeWarrior Java tools integrated with Insignia Solutions embedded virtual machine, EVM, will be available to customers of JENE, Insignia’s implementation of JAVA(TM) designed specifically for embedded systems. The EVM is a key component of JENE. The CodeWarrior tools for the EVM will feature the award-winning CodeWarrior Integrated Development Environment, which includes editors, browsers, compilers, assemblers, linkers and debuggers, all in one convenient package.
The CodeWarrior-JENE bundle will be available from Insignia Solutions in the first calendar quarter of 1999.
Sales and Marketing departments are located in Fremont and High Wycombe. For additional information on Insignia and its products, call 800/848-7677 in the United States and +44(0)1628 539 570 in Europe, or visit the Company’s Web site at www.insignia.com.
Metrowerks, the Metrowerks logo and CodeWarrior are registered trademarks of Metrowerks Inc. All other company and product names may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies/holders, and are hereby recognized.
I. F. – HAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC. INTRODUCES FUJITSU SPARC(TM) SMP SERVERS
Campbell, CA–November 4, 1998–HAL Computer Systems, Inc., a Fujitsu Ltd. subsidiary, today announced the Fujitsu GP7000/GP7000F family of SPARC(TM) servers for North America. The GP7000 is available now with the GP7000F scheduled to be available in early 1999. The GP7000/GP7000F servers use the Sun Solaris(TM) operating system and are fully compatible with Sun Catalyst(TM) applications. With Fujitsu’s added RAS (Reliability, Accessibility and Serviceability) features, these aggressively priced systems offer excellent price/performance for mission critical applications.
The GP7000 Model 200 is an entry-level server that can be easily upgraded to dual 300 MHz UltraSPARC-II processors, 4 gigabytes of memory and 8 internal disk drives. The Model 400 supports up to four processors and the Model 600 up to eight processors. All multi-processor configurations are SMP (symmetric multi-processing) and can handle a wide range of SBus devices, RAID and networking connections. The Model 600 can be configured with up to 8 gigabytes of memory and 22 internally housed hard disk drives. Early in the first quarter of 1999, 360 MHz UltraSPARC-II processors will be available as upgrades for selected models.
The GP7000F features a PCI device bus, scales to eight processors, and is equipped with enhanced RAS features. Building on RAS features found in all GP7000 models, the GP7000F offers an advanced SCF (system control facility) that monitors the system status, reporting potential failures and malfunctions. Hot-swap tape and disk drives, dual hot-swap power supplies and the use of ECC protection for both main memory and cache, make the GP7000F ideally suited for mission critical applications.
The GP7000F will use the new Fujitsu SPARC64-GP(TM) superscalar, super-pipelined processor designed and manufactured by Fujitsu. The SPARC64(TM)-GP packs 17.6 million transistors on a 240-millimeter die. At 272 MHz, the highly efficient GP7000F delivers 17.6 SPECint95 (estimated), 26.6 SPECfp95 (estimated) and 816 MFLOPS (million floating-point operations per second). The GP7000F can be upgraded beginning in mid-1999 with processors up to 300 MHz and supporting level 2 cache up [Image]to 8 megabytes. In the future Fujitsu will offer faster SPARC64(TM)-GP processors, larger SMP configurations, enhanced High Availability features, and high performance interconnect technology that will support System Area Networks.
The GP7000F is fully compatible with Sun Catalyst(TM) listed SPARC(TM) /Solaris applications. A suite of application development tools, including compilers, libraries and code management applications is available for the entire GP7000 family.
HAL Computer Systems, Inc. www.hal.com is the master reseller for the Fujitsu GP7000 family of SPARC/Solaris SMP (synchronous multi-processor) servers in North America. HAL’s Microprocessor Division designs advanced 64-bit SPARC V9 technology for Fujitsu’s SMP servers. HAL’s FJST Business Unit www.fjst.com developed the Synfinity Interconnect, an innovative, high-speed multi-SMP ccNUMA technology for large-scale system area networks.
I. G. – RAVE COMPUTER ASSOCIATION, INC. HELPS GLOBAL INTERNET CACHING SERVICES STARTUP TAKE OFF
Sterling Heights, MI–November10, 1998–Mirror Image Internet is a leading provider of comprehensive caching services that can double the performance of their customers’ existing cache investments. To increase the speed of Internet downloads, relieve bandwidth bottlenecks and ensure content freshness for Internet Service Providers and corporations, Mirror Image deploys large Central Caches worldwide that serve as community content servers, enabling subscribers to bypass congestion at key Internet exchange points. The company’s revolutionary open caching solution requires no new hardware, installation or maintenance, enhancing the performance of caching platforms from numerous vendors.
For this purpose, Mirror Image Internet has successfully deployed more than seven Rave Systems RackMount-AXi systems globally as integral parts of their Central Cache architecture, and has completed the initial trial testing of the Rave Systems RackMount-AXmp. The RM-AXi are the platforms for which Mirror Image Internet is serving millions of web requests faster, improving ISPs and corporations network performance, and delivering in total up to 75% of all web requests regionally or locally. The RM- AXi provides Mirror Image Internet with the ability to scale to supporting millions of end users, and storing terabytes of web content.
Rave Computer is also on the cutting edge of providing hardware solutions for customers. The recent introduction of the Rave Web Caching solution has been developed as a Mirror Image Internet Central Cache ready local caching appliance. The local cache from Rave is supported by the Mirror Image Internet Central Cache. With a simple 10 minute configuration change on the Rave Systems RM-AXi web cache, a 25-35% additional cache hit rate can be delivered from a Mirror Image Central Cache. Combining the hardware with the Central Cache Service offers a total caching solution.
More details about Rave Computer Association, Inc. can be found on their web site at www.rave.net or by calling +800-966-7283.
I. H. RED HAT SOFTWARE, INC. NAMES NEW PRESIDENT
Research Triangle Park, NC–November 13, 1998–Red Hat Software, Inc. announced today that Matthew Szulik will join the company as President and Chief Operating Officer. Bob Young will remain as the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. With 21 years of technology industry experience, Szulik, a native of Massachusetts, has helped build leading technology companies, including MapInfo, the Troy N.Y.-based mapping software company. Most recently he has been President of Relativity Software, a successful and fast-growing enterprise software company based in Cary, NC. Red Hat Chairman and CEO Bob Young said, “This is a time of enormous growth for Red Hat Software. Red Hat Linux is gaining increasing momentum, resulting in increasing demand for our enterprise computing services. Bringing successful, experienced executives like Matthew into Red Hat is important to our future success and growth.”
II. TESTING ADDITIONS, DELETIONS AND PRODUCTS IN PROCESS
The SPARC Compliant brand, awarded by SPARC International, assures end users that systems so branded will work with any other product branded to the same level of the “SPARC Compliant Definition (SCD).” This list, updated monthly, includes changes made to the master list of SPARC Compliant products.
To view the master list, please access our web site at www.sparc.org or send email to info@sparc.org.
SCD TESTING:
ADDITIONS:
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DELETIONS: None at this time
IN PROCESS: None at this time
V8/V9 Testing:
ADDITIONS:
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DELETIONS: None at this time.
IN PROCESS: None at this time.
PVT Testing:
ADDITIONS: None at this time.
DELETIONS: None at this time.
IN PROCESS: None at this time.
NOTE: At times, unannounced systems (“in process” or “certified”) may not be included in this report at the request of the vendor.
SPARC-related documents are available through SPARC International’s bookstore, SPARCSHOP. Access to SPARCSHOP is available several ways,
- email sparcshop@sparc.org
- phone us at 1-408-748-9111 x240
Currently available
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– Managing Editor –
Cheryl Hostetler
Direct Inquiries To – sparc-flash-request@sparc.org
SPARC International promotes the design, development and application of SPARC to computer and peripheral products; establishes hardware and software standards; enables compatibility across SPARC-branded products; and provides, promotes and protects SPARC and SPARC-related brand names.
SPARC International has verified to the best of its ability all of the product information contained in this newsletter. Information in this newsletter has been provided by the vendors. SPARC International has not reviewed claims made about product features or functions, and is not responsible for the accuracy of such claims. Users may want to obtain references, documentation, and/or demonstrations before purchasing any products or services. No vendor is authorized to act as an agent of SPARC International, or to make any representations or warranties on SPARC International’s behalf.
The following are Registered® Trademarks of SPARC International, Inc.:
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Other Trademarks that are in use or Pending Registration include:
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Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Ltd. All other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.